Cal Poly

Abstract:

The Messinger Collection contains 100 black-and-white photographs that record one soldier's views of Japan in the closing days of World War II, including 14 aerial photographs of Nagasaki after the atomic bombing on August 9, 1945. The photographs include views of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; the sea voyage to the Sasebo Naval Base, Japan; Japanese and American ships and aircraft; Army, Navy and Marine military personnel; images of Japanese urban and rural life in and around Sasebo following the fire-bombing; and aerial photography showing the devastation after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

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Descriptive Summary

• Title: Messinger Pacific Theater World War II Collection, August-October, 1945
• Collection Number: MS 064
• Creator: Donald J. Messinger
• Extent: 1 box
• Language: English

Biographical Note

Donald J. Messinger was born on February 9, 1914, and died in Rochester, New York, on June 4, 1993. Little is known about his life or his service during World War II.

Scope and Content Note

The Messinger Collection contains 100 black-and-white photographs that record one soldier's views of Japan in the closing days of World War II, including 14 aerial photographs of Nagasaki after the atomic bombing on August 9, 1945.

The photographs include views of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; the sea voyage to the Sasebo Naval Base in Japan; Japanese and American ships and aircraft; Army, Navy and Marine military personnel; images of Japanese urban and rural life in and around Sasebo following the fire-bombing; and aerial photography showing the devastation after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

The collection is arranged in original chronological order, from August through October of 1945 and uses Mr. Messinger's captions from the photographs in folder lists.